YARMAB thread (Yet Another Recommend Me A Bike)

[natefz6]

So part of my move out of the smoke gives me some money in the back burner and authority from the misses to buy a new bike. I have anywhere from £2-£6 K to spend £7k at a push.

Can you please help me out and through some suggestions in the pot, picture welcome... My requirements in order of importance are as follows


Reliable, this will be used all year to get me to and from work. I might keep the current bike (gs500) as a spare but its showing its age already.

Comfortable, same as above.

Not a tiny tank, I don't want to be filling up all the time.

MPG, I do minimum of 300 miles a week so savings could add up.

Not too big, I am 5' 7" so nothing too heavy or tall.

Good in traffic, 50% of the commute is in central London, so no wide tourers.

Fun, now I don't want to kill myself but I have been riding a piece of shit for 8 years, I am looking for something nice to ride with a bit of grin factor.

Bikes I like the look of include;

Street triple
675
FZ8
MT-09
VFR
CBR

Where is best to get looking? ebay, gumtree, autotrader? are there any equivalent of CarGiant for motorbikes around the west of London area?

I would like to try out a few different bikes, I have ridden a triple which was pretty nice but very upright so not sure how it would be on the motorway every day. I have had some pains in my wrists lately which might be down to the commute so I don't want to be too far forward either.


Cheers!
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"no I didn't steal it that's just the way I ride"

[Conzar]

Fireb.. ahhhhh i'd say a NC700
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Current ride: ZX6R 636 ------- Previous:KTM EXC 450 Supermoto --- ZX6R B1H --Hornet 600--CBR 600--SV650
11:05:35 Rob Fzs: i just wanna own an rd350 valve before they send us to war with durkadurkastan

[Bubblin77]

Z800
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Kawasaki Z800 (SOLD)

[MarJay]

Street Triple.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[natefz6]

I did consider adding the NC700 to the list but did not know if it might be a bit errr... boring. I guess coming from a gs500 anything will be a step up!

Z800, whats the build quality like on these now, I really liked it when it first came out but the value seemed to drop pretty quick and I saw lots looking pretty tatty quick.

The bike I get will likely live outside but under cover most of its life as I don't have a garage and would not be arsed to get it in and out of the soon to be coming man shed.
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"no I didn't steal it that's just the way I ride"

[Conzar]

I'd be looking at a FZ6 or something similar if its being left outside. i would feel bad leaving a triple outside all its life
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Current ride: ZX6R 636 ------- Previous:KTM EXC 450 Supermoto --- ZX6R B1H --Hornet 600--CBR 600--SV650
11:05:35 Rob Fzs: i just wanna own an rd350 valve before they send us to war with durkadurkastan

[Bubblin77]

Had mine for high on 20 months, used every day and still looks like new, to be honest build quality on most bikes is similar.

Values are still strong, its the used and abused z800e models ragged by 19 year olds that ruin these,

A new e model can be got for £5999 rrp£6999.

The normal z800 is an rrp of £7499, I bought new and paid less on the month if launch but doubt you'd get a new one for less than £6500, ex demos are around £6k to £6500,

Second hand of my age are selling at £5500-£6k based on.mileage and trade in at £5k ish.

Mpg is around 35 in town up to 50 on the motorway, insurance for me is £105 fully comp, new rider south east.

Ridevas many bikes and really choose the one you like.
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Kawasaki Z800 (SOLD)

[natefz6]

z800 does look quite nice..

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kawasaki-Z-800-zr800-PRE-REG-SAVE-1000-Plus-0-Finance-/221408752060?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item338cfd71bc

and 0% finance I can leave my money in the bank, win, win.

Whats it like on the motorway do you have a fly screen on yours?
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"no I didn't steal it that's just the way I ride"

[Bubblin77]

The link you provided is the z800e model, pushing less bhp and has cheaper shocks and less 'carbon' trim.

Try Colchester Kawasaki for some great deals, avoid the e model if you can

The non evmodel is usually badged z800ADS, The z800e is usually badged z800cef (maybe ARE, not sure 100%)

Careful which one you buy.

I chose the z800 over the triple purely down to low speed drive, the triple was a little slower to pull away up to 30, and as 99% of my riding is in traffic the z800 felt better for me.

Screen on or off is crap, its a naked so at 70 your head will still be ripped off.
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Kawasaki Z800 (SOLD)

[Conzar]

Naked bikes are a pain on the motorway, something with wind protection. Have a look at some SV1000's
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Current ride: ZX6R 636 ------- Previous:KTM EXC 450 Supermoto --- ZX6R B1H --Hornet 600--CBR 600--SV650
11:05:35 Rob Fzs: i just wanna own an rd350 valve before they send us to war with durkadurkastan

[natefz6]

The SV's have never floated my boat really. Motorway is not too bad on the GS (only on it 15-20 mins each way) but I did start thinking I should be looking at bikes with a bit better wind profile especially with winter coming ™. I just prefer the look of naked.
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"no I didn't steal it that's just the way I ride"

[_Iain_]

Would like to say Z800, however the seats are rather firm which I found uncomfortable on the motorway. I reckon a gel seat would fix that though. It's also not the lowest bike, whereas the triple has a very low seat as standard.

It was very good at filtering in London traffic, engine is superb and really pulls hard from low RPM's, fuel consumption was better than the ER-6 & averaged an indicated 42mpg based on a blast through town, M20, M25, M40 and off at Bourne end cruising at 85-90mph with a quick spin up to 140mph. Wasn't any better or worse than any other naked without a flyscreen tbh, once you've pushed over a ton you're tucked in anyway, however my shoulders were the limiting factor in the attempt to max the bike out - the bike was still pulling but they got a bit hurty. Certainly won't be any worse than your GS500 at simmilar speeds. Also as above, avoid the detuned E model. It'll get through A2 laws, but less power even de-restricted & budget suspension.

Quality is good, as is the finish. Z800 came out in 2013, you sure you're not thinking of the Z750 with regards the depreciation & loads looking tatty etc?

Z800 vs triple? Zed anyday. Everyone else has the triple & the Z800 just looks nicer.
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Please be aware that the above post may be full of complete nonsense.
Riding: '07 KTM Duke II, Baotian BT49QT-20 Driving: '88 Volvo 340

[wr6133]

With that budget I'd buy 2 bikes.

1 - Boring economical, faired or semi faired commuter to rack up the commuting miles. F650GS/old cb500s/dullville/etc. prices there range from under a grand (cb500s) to around 2k tops (for the beemer or dullville)

2 - Fun bike for leisure time by not commuting on it you don't need to worry so much about MPG or bulletproof reliability, just get something to make you grin. You'll have 3-4k left in your budget to spend here so the world is pretty much yours.

[natefz6]

[_Iain_]

Also worth keeping in mind that Paddy's street triple consumes lots of petrol, and another freinds brand new street triple is also very very thirsty.
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Please be aware that the above post may be full of complete nonsense.
Riding: '07 KTM Duke II, Baotian BT49QT-20 Driving: '88 Volvo 340

[Northern Monkey]

[Conzar]

I wasn't being serious.
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Current ride: ZX6R 636 ------- Previous:KTM EXC 450 Supermoto --- ZX6R B1H --Hornet 600--CBR 600--SV650
11:05:35 Rob Fzs: i just wanna own an rd350 valve before they send us to war with durkadurkastan

[natefz6]

Anyone know any good dealers with a larger stock list in West London, Maidenhead, Slough, Windsor, Reading, Oxford, Guildford way?

Is it just me but Google seems to be really crap for Motorcycle stuff, when I last broke down it kept on giving me numbers for car garages when i specifically asked for bike places.
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"no I didn't steal it that's just the way I ride"

[Conzar]

Google, motorcycle dealers then go on maps.
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Current ride: ZX6R 636 ------- Previous:KTM EXC 450 Supermoto --- ZX6R B1H --Hornet 600--CBR 600--SV650
11:05:35 Rob Fzs: i just wanna own an rd350 valve before they send us to war with durkadurkastan

[wr6133]

[Rogerborg]

[Val]

[Badger28]

I have just purchased a street triple having considered pretty much the exact same points.

I found the street triple fine at speed (I am also 5'7). I also averaged 50mpg on an hour long ride which was at rush hour in Birmingham and some motorway riding.

Swapping an sv because the sportyish position really doesn't agree with me.

Worth trying all the bikes which you think look good on paper. I was quite set on the mt-09 but quickly discounted it within ten minutes of jumping on it.

[_Iain_]

[henry hoover]

I test rode a Gixxer 750 the other day the L1 model. Defo the most comfy sports bike I've ever ridden. 50mpg apparently to
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Cbr600rr 2010 Sold
Zx6r 636 2006 sold
Gsxr 750 L1 current